Srila Gurudeva: So, how should we worship Caitanya Mahaprabhu? Those who want to worship Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu in arcana-marga (the path of formal scriptural rules and regulations, or vaidhi- bhakti), they can think that Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu is separate from Krsna. They can meditate on Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and Krsna separately. That is why they keep two deities—Gaura-Nityananda and Radha-Krsna. Or Radha-Krsna and Mahaprabhu. When they offer some preparation they will say, “srim klim radha-krsnabhyam namah” and “klim gauraya svaha”. They will say both because they have no satisfaction. They think that Radha-Krsna and Mahaprabhu are two different forms. Sometimes they chant, “Hare Krsna Hare Krsna,” thinking about Mahaprabhu, Sacinandana, and His yellow color, and separately think about Radha-Krsna conjugal.
They are inclined like this, so what to do? I know some very high-class Vaisnavas who are also inclined like this. They then establish two separate deities—Radha-Krsna and Caitanya Mahaprabhu. They are not satisfied. When they offer something to Radha-Krsna, they think that they are not offering it to Mahaprabhu, and when they offer it to Mahaprabhu, they cannot believe that they are giving it to Radha-Krsna. Bhaktivinoda Thakura is saying, “In confusion—let them do so.” Or here, Gopala Guru Gosvami is saying to Vijaya Kumara, “Let them do so, but you should not follow all these things.”
They can repeat, “klim gauraya svaha” or they can also say, “srim klim radha-krsnabhyam namah” or “klim krsnaya govindaya gopi-jana-vallabhaya svaha.” The thing I am explaining cannot be explained to the masses. I am only saying this to those who have second initiation. You should try to keep this in your heart, not here in the market and here and there. This is very secret, very secret, very secret. You should keep this in your heart. I am only saying this only to help you in your bhajana so that you may become more advanced. This is why I am telling you this. There should be no confusion. I know that I am speaking about such an elevated thing. Someone may be confused because they don’t have a very strong desire or greed, but I am telling this to help them.
Although in arcana-marga there may seem to be two deities and they are giving two dishes, two preparations, and two different mantras, now you should not do like this. In rasa-marga, in raganuga-marga, in the path of rasa, one will only do bhajana to the Radha-vallabha form of Krsna. One will only meditate on Him. Only He will be served, not Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Because in raganuga-marga, Krsna becomes Caitanya Mahaprabhu. There is no separate existence. They both become one, so there is no need to give two different mantras and offerings. But Caitanya Mahaprabhu has come, so what should we do? If we are always serving Radha-Krsna with that greed, in rasa-marga, raganuga-marga, then how should we see and worship Caitanya Mahaprabhu? You should treat Him always like a Guru, mukunda- presthatve. In Manah-siksa this has been said for Gurudeva, but not here. This sloka is only referring to Caitanya Mahaprabhu.
[Spoken by Srila Gurudeva on December 19th, 1998, Bali, published as part of the Bhakta Bandhav Anthology, Volume 24]